You have looked at all the breeds of cats and have decided that the Russian Blue is the cat for you. Not only do you want one but you think it would be a great idea to get a pair of them and start breeding. Seems like a great idea, so why do all the reputable breeders you approach act mortified at the idea?
Reputable breeders have several reasons for not wanting to sell pairs, beginning with the desire to protect the breed from backyard breeders trying to make a buck. If done correctly, breeding can never be more then an expensive hobby. You should do it because you love the breed and want to see it improved. Every breeder should be working towards producing cats that meet the written standard for the breed.
Another reason is for the health and happiness of the cats. A female should not be bred more then twice in a 12 month period. That means you have an intact male who is only used twice a year. Males spray to mark their territory. You will need an area to confine him in that is large enough for him to get exercise and easy to keep clean to avoid unpleasant odors in your home. Keeping him in a small cage is cruel. You also will need a place to confine your female when she is in heat and not going to be bred, an extremely high majority of females also spray when they are in heat, they do this to attract males. It is equally cruel to put a female who is used to having the freedom of your house into a small cage during her cycle.
Still you are convinced that you want to breed Russian Blues. What can you do to make this dream a reality? Find a reputable breeder (close to you, if possible) who is willing to mentor you. Study the standards, know how to compare a cat to the written word. Don’t expect to have your own male when you only have one female. Expect to pay stud fee’s, understanding that you will never make this money back. Some breeders will insist that you start with a show alter. You will take this cat to cat shows, learn the ropes and get to know other breeders after which your mentor will sell you a whole female. Some breeders will start you out with a whole female but insist on co-owning this cat through it’s first litter to make sure things are done correctly.
You’ve found a mentor and have your first whole female. Once she’s past a year old you take her to the stud for breeding, then you wait approximately 65 days for your litter. You still think breeding is a good idea. Have you thought about the possibility of c-sections? What do you do if she has the kittens and then walks away? Are you capable of opening the sac, cutting the cord, messaging life into a kitten? Do you have a weak stomach, can you deal with the blood and slime (kitten sac’s feel just like snot!)? What if she needs a c-section, do you know what to look for? Do you have a vet that is available all hours of the night or will you be sent to an emergency clinic where they’ve never heard of you or your cat? Are you prepared to pay hundreds of dollars on vet bills with the possibility of not only losing the entire litter of kittens, but the possibility of also losing your beloved female? What if a kitten gets stuck, do you know how to help it be born? Can you take off from work and watch your cat when it gets close to time for her to deliver? Can you take the time to feed these kittens every two hours day and night if the mother totally rejects them? What if they are born dead or deformed? These are only a few of the things you must be prepared to deal with.
Now you’ve had your first litter of kittens the fun really starts. You need a safe room where the female can raise her kittens in peace. You will need to begin socializing these kittens from day one, which means alot of handling and cuddling. They will need to see the vet at 8, 12, & 16 weeks for their FVRCP shots. Are you going to sell these kittens as pets? Will you have them spayed/neutered before they leave your home? Will you withhold the papers until proof has been supplied by the new owner that the kitten has been fixed? Reputable breeders usually let their kittens go to their new homes between 12 & 16 weeks. Did you ask enough questions? Are these babies going to really good lifetime homes? Did you bring a kitten into the world that may end up in the pound? By the way, by this time you are totally attached to these babies, can you stand your heart breaking over and over as these babies go off to their new homes?
So you want to breed Russian Blues? Are you sure?